Wisconsin Sports Headlines - 5/21/2020

21-May-2020

The Latest Sports Headlines:

>>Packers Z-Smith, Clark Among NFL’s Best On The “Money Down”

(Green Bay, WI) -- The statistics show two Green Bay Packers defenders were among the NFL’s best on what is called “the money down.” Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and defensive lineman Kenny Clark finished among the league’s top five for third-down pressures during the 2019 season. Each had 23, while the Ram’s Aaron Donald was at the top with 28. Clark made the NFL Pro Bowl for the first time last season – helping his team put up some good situational numbers. Packer opponents completed just 56 percent of their passes on third-down plays, averaged only six-point-six yards-per-attempt and they allowed a passer rating of less than 80.

>>RoadAmerica Indy Car Weekend Moving From June To July

(Elkhart, WI) -- Confirmation could come as soon as today (Thursday) for RoadAmerica plans to move IndyCar weekend from June to July. The Wisconsin track is waiting to hear from IndyCar officials. The race in Elkhart Lake would move to the weekend of July 10th, replacing Toronto’s original date for what is going to be a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader. Alexander Rossi won last year’s race in Wisconsin. IndyCar racers have competed at the track 29 times since 1982.

>>NCAA Lifts Prohibition Of On-Campus Workouts

(Indianapolis, IN) -- The NCAA’s Division One Council has lifted the prohibition of on-campus workouts for athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball effective June 1st. The vote was taken Wednesday to lift the rule first put in place two months ago. Some schools had reportedly been targeting a June 1st resumption date even before the NCAA vote. Because stay-at-home regulations vary from state-to-state, some Division One teams will be able to get started while others will have to wait. Athletic officials at Ohio State University say Buckeye athletes will be allowed to use athletic facilities for voluntary workouts June 8th.

>>Badgers Football Coach Chryst Ranked 17th-Best In The Country

(Madison, WI) -- Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Paul Chryst is ranked 17th-best in the country among Power-5 coaches, according to a panel of seven analysts. Chryst is moving up six spots after checking in at number-23 last year. The CBS Sports panel says “he never gets as much credit as he deserves” after going 52-and-16 in five seasons, with three division titles. Five Big Ten Conference coaches are ranked above the Badgers head man -- Penn State’s James Franklin (number nine), Ohio State’s Ryan Day (10), Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh (12), Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (14) and Minnesota’s PJ Fleck (15). Alabama coach Nick Saban was again ranked number-one.

>>UW Basketball Recruiting Class Of 2020 Highest-Ranked Since 2006

(Madison, WI) -- Services like 247 Sports really like Wisconsin coach Greg Gard’s recruiting class of 2020. At number-27 in the country, the Badgers have the highest ranking they’ve received in 14 years. Wisconsin was number-one in the Big Ten Conference behind Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The Hoosiers were the only conference team to bring in a five-star recruit – Evansville, Indiana point guard Khristian Lander signed a letter-of-intent Monday. Badger recruits like power forward Ben Carlson and guard Johnny Davis were ranked among the top-130 players in the country.